Published 11:28 pm, Monday, November 12, 2012

The former star NHL forwards were presented with their Hall of Fame member rings at a news conference Monday morning.

It's a recognition Oates, 50, still has trouble wrapping his mind around at times.

"It's the ultimate compliment and one that is still very hard to accept," said Oates, who in June was named head coach of the Washington Capitals, the team with which he spent parts of six seasons as a player. "That I'm in a room now with Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier, people that I wanted to raise my game to try to be like, and I'm in the same room — it's a huge honor."